Game apparatus



June 2, V D E HOOKER 2,042,786

GAME APPARATUS Filed June 12, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Donald 1? flooher H15 ATTORNEYS.

June 2, 1936. D. E. HOOKER 2,042,786

GAME APPARATUS Filed June 12, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

" B022 alai E flooh/er "mm BY f ,"H 78 p5,? M M447 1175. ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 2, 1936 PATENT OFFICE GAME APPARATUS Donald E. Hooker,Elgin, Ill., assignor to Fred C. McClellan, Chicago, 111.

Application June 12, 1935, Serial No. 26,097

Claims.

' This invention relates to a game apparatus.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved game apparatuswhich is relatively simple and inexpensive in construction and efficientin use.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a variable directionball propelling or reprojecting device for a game apparatus of the,

so called pin and marble game type.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel device forreprojecting a ball up the inclined playing board, that is, over theplaying surface of a game apparatus of the pin and marble game type, insuch a manner that the ball may travel either in a direction paralleltothe long axis of the inclined playing board or playing surface or atan angle relative thereto.

A further object of the invention, ancillary to the foregoing object, isto construct the aforementioned reprojecting device in such a mannerthat the direction of travel of the reprojecting ball, that is, whetherthe reprojected ball travels in a line parallel to the long axis of theinclined playing board or at an angle relative thereto is dependent uponthe engagement of a ball, propelled up the inclined playing board, witha predetermined one of a group or bank of circuitclosing contacts ortargets" which are arranged upon the playing surface.

A further object of the invention is to construct the same in such amanner that the direction of travel of the reprojected ball is dependentupon the particular part of the target or contact with which a ballpropelled onto the playing surface of the apparatus may engage.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of partsto be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, showing a preferred form of construction and in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a game apparatus embodying a preferred formof the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, on line 2-2 in Fig. 1, showing a preferredform of the new ball-reprojecting device;

Fig. 3 is a. rear elevational view of a preferred form of aball-reprojecting device, on line 33 in Fig. 2; i

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a part of the top of thegame board disposed adjacent the ball-reprojecting device, and showing apreferred form of the ball-reprojecting device associated therewith;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, on line 55 in Fig. 1, showing a preferredform of the circuit-closing device or target embodied in the invention;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view, on line 6-6 in Fig. 5, showing one of thecircuit-closing switches or targets shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a perspective detail view of a ball return runway embodied inthe new apparatus;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view on line 8-8 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a schematic wiring diagram of a preferred form of electriccircuit embodied in the invention;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary top plan view of a game apparatus embodying'amodified form of the invention;

Fig. 11 is a perspective detail view of a circuit closing device ortarget embodied in the modified form of the invention, which is shown inFigs. 10 to 16 inclusive;

Fig. 12 is a verticalsectional view showing a modified form of theball-reprojecting device which is embodied in the modified form of theinvention, shown in Figs. 10 to 16 inclusive with certain of the partsomitted;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view on line l3.l3 in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a bottom plan view showing certain parts of the modified formof the invention shown in Figs. 10 to 16 inclusive;

Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic view of an electric circuit embodied in themodified form of the invention, shown in Figs. 10 to 16 inclusive; and

Fig. 16 is a sectional detail view, on line I6-l6 in Fig. 14.

A game apparatus embodying a preferred form of the present invention asshown in Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, is therein generally indicated at 20,and comprises a cabinet 2| which includes an inclined playing board 22.Arranged in the cabinet 2| at one side of the inclined playing board 22is a ball. runway or ramp 23 and arranged at the lower end of the ballrunway or ramp 23 is a propelling device or plunger 24 by means of whichballs may be propelled, one at a time, onto the upper area or portion ofthe inclined playing board 22; the inclined playing board 22 beingdivided by a partition or wall 86 into an upper playing area 25 and alower playing area 85, (Fig. 1).

Arranged upon the inclined playing board 22, in the upper area 25thereof, is a group or bank of ball-actuated circuit closing devices ortarelectromagnets 34' and 35.

gets, one of which is generally indicated at 26, (Figs. 1, 5, and 6).

Each of the circuit-closing devices or targets 26 includes apair ofnormally spaced contact members 21 and 28, (Fig. 6), and the contactmember 28 which is embodied in each of the circuitclosing devices 26,has a portion 29 which projects upwardly through an opening 30 which isformed in inclined playing board 22, (Fig. 6).

The circuit-closing devices 26 are arranged or embodied in a Wheatstonebridge electric circuit 3|, (Fig. 9) which includes a group ofresistance units 32 which are connected in a series circuit 3|, (Fig. 9)This circuit 3| also includes a suitable source of electric energy 33and a pair of electromagnets 34-35.

Associated with the electromagnets 34 and 35 are two ball propelling orre-projecting members 36 and 31, respectively, these re-p'rojectingmembers 36 and 31 being pivotally mounted at their lower ends, as at 38,(Fig. 2), and have: angled upper end portions 39 and 40, respectively,(Figs. 2 and 3). These angled upper end portions39 and 4|) of there-projecting members 36 and 31 work in aslot 4| which is provided in aball seat 42 which is'arranged in an opening 43 which is provided in theinclined playing board 22 in the lower area thereof.

When a ball propelled onto the upper area 25 of the inclined playingboard 22 engages the upwardly extending portion 29 of one of thecontacts 28 it pivots the latter, (Fig. 6), into engagement with thecorresponding contact 21, thereby closing the circuit 3| to theelectromagnets 34 and 35, (Fig. 9) and it will be noted that therelative strength of the current which flows through the circuit 3| toeach oi the electromagnets 34 and 35, that is, the relativeelectromagnetic forces set up in the electromagnets 34 and 35, when aplayed ball engages one of the contact members or targets 28 and 29,depends upon the relative position of the particular circuit-closingdevice or target 28-29, against which the played ball engages, in thebank or group of the same, (Fig. 5), and the consequent amount ofresistance offered to the flow of current through the circuit 3| to theelectromagnets 34 and 35, and the total number of resistance units 32which the current has to pass through before entering the electromagnets34 and 35, (Fig. 9).

Thus, for example, assuming that a played ball engages the particularcontacts 28-29 which is located at position A, (Fig. 9) In this eventapproximately the same amount of resistance will be oiiered to thepassage of the current through the circuit 3| to both electromagnets 34and 35, since thecontacts 26-21-28 which are arranged at position A,(Fig. 9), are disposed midway between the ends of the bank of resistanceunits 32, and hence the electromagnets 34 and 35 will be correspondinglyactuated, that is, substantially equal electromagnetic forces will beset up in both Consequently, the electromagnetic forces applied by theelectromagnets 34 and 35 to the ball-reprojecting members 36 and 31will. be substantially equal, and a ball disposed upon the ball seat 42will be engaged with substantially the same force by the upwardlyextending portions 39 and 4|) of both reprojecting members 36 and 31,and hence the ball dis posed upon the seat 42 will be reprojected of!from the same up the inclined playing board 22 in a line substantiallyparallel to the long axis of the inclined playing board 22; it beingnoted that during this operation the ball thus'reprojected travelsaerially, above the inclined playing board 22 and is projected into oneof the ballreceiving pockets or exit openings 84 which are provided inthe inclined playing board 22, in the lower playing area 85 thereof.

However, assuming that the played ball engages the contact units26-21-28 which is located at position B, (Fig. 9) In this event lessresistance will be ofiered to the passage of the current through thecircuit 3| to the electromagnet 34 than will be offered to the passageof current through the circuit 3| to the electromagnet 35, and hence theelectromagnetic force set up in the electromagnet 34 will be greaterthan that set up in the electromagnet 35. Accordingly, theelectromagnetic force applied by the electromagnet 34 to thereprojecting members 33-39 will be greater than that applied byelectromagnet 35 to the reprojecting members 31-40 and hence the balldisposed upon the seat 42 will be struck with greater force by thereprojecting members 36-39 than it will by the reprojecting members31-46 and hence the ball will be reprojected up off from the seat 42over the inclined playing board 22 at an angle relative to the long axisof the play-' ing board 22 (from left to right and toward the top of thesheet, as seen in Fig. 1).

On the other hand, assuming that the played ball engages the contactunits 26-21-28-29 which is located at position C, (Fig.9) In this eventthere will be less resistance ofiered to the passage of the currentthrough the circuit 3| to the electromagnet 35 than will be offered tothe passage of the current through the circuit 3| to the electromagnet34 and hence the electromag netic force set up in the electromagnet 35will be greater thanthat set up in the electromagnet 34. I I

1 Accordingly, the electromagnetic force applied by the electromagnet 35to the reprojecting members 31-40 will be greater than that applied bythe electromagnet 34 to the reprojecting members 36-39, and hence theball disposed upon the seat 42 will be reprojected therefrom up theinclined playing board 22 at an angle relative to the long axis of theinclined playing board 22, (left to right and toward the bottom of thesheet, (Fig. 1)

It is'to be noted that a ball propelled into the upper area 25 ofthe'inclined playing board 22 may successively engage a plurality of thetargets" 26, that is, such'a ball may strike the upwardly extendingportion 29 of one or more of the other contacts 21-28, therebysuccessively closing the switches 26-21-28 and 29 and thus rapidly andsuccessively closing the circuit 3| through the corresponding resistanceunits 32, and in this manner rapidly varying the angle at which a ballwill be reprojected over the lower area 85 of the inclined playing board22 by the reprojecting device 68. By reason of this fact, the range,that is, the number of possible angles at which a ball may bereprojected over the inclined playing board 22 by the ball-reprojectingdevice 68 is'not limited to the exact number of resistance units 32, andthe corresponding number of switches 26-21-28-and 29, which are embodiedin the circuit 3|,-since when a played ball engages a plurality of thecontacts 21-28, as above set forth, a variable, or rapidly varying.resistance is, in efiect, set up in the circuits 3|32,' etc., and theangle at which the ball will then be reprojected over the inclinedplaying board 22 is thus incapable of exact determination and may varywithin a considerable range.

The particular means by which balls are conducted or elevated to theball seat 42 from a. point below the same, forms no part of the presentinvention. However, an elevating device, is shown in the drawings (Fig.2), and is therein generally indicated at 44, it being understood thatby means of this device balls may be elevated, one at a time, up ontothe inclined playing board 22 from a point below the same, so that theymay gravitate thereover and enter into the ball seat In the use of aball elevating device, such as that indicated 44, the spent balls areconducted from an exit opening 45 which is formed in the upper area 25of the inclined playing board 22, to the ball-elevating device 44 bymeans of a ball return runway ,46, (Figs. 1 and 7). However, it is to beunderstood that this arrangement is no way essential to the presentinvention.

Arranged upon the inclined playing board 22 in front of the ballreprojecting devices 3946, (Fig. 4), is a notched inclined approach 80,and in the event that there is a ball disposed upon the ball seat 42,and another ball runs down the inclined playing board 22 toward thereprojecting devices 3 940, it will roll by gravity through the notchedportion of the approach 69 into engagement with the ball which isalready disposed on the ball seat 42 and will be deflected by thelastnamed ball 'down one of the inclined surfaces 6| of the approach 80into'one of the runways 82,

(Fig. 4), which are formed in the inclined playing board 22, and willtravel down the same into the out opening 83, (Fig. 4).

A modified form of the invention is shown in Figs. 10 to. 16 inclusive.

Inthis modified form of the invention a circuit-closing device,generally indicated at 41, (Figs. 10 and 11), is mounted upon the upperarea 48 of the inclined playing board 49 which is arranged in thecabinet 59. This circuit-closing device 41 coinprises a substantiallysemi-circular plate or target 5|, (Fig. 11), which includes an edge orsurface 11 which is adapted to be engaged by balls propelled onto theupper portion of the inclined playing board 49, (Fig. 11). Attached toand depending from the plate or target 5| are two arms 52 and 53, whichwork in openings 54 and 55, respectively, which are provided in theinclined playing board 49, (Fig. 11).

Attached to the depending arm 52 of the target or contact plate 5|. is acontact member 56, associated with this contact 56 is a contact 51.Attached to the arm 53 of the contact plate 5| is a contact member 58and associated with the contact 56 is a contact 59. These contactmembers 5959 and 56--51 are arranged in an electric circuit 66, (Fig.15), which includes a resistance unit 6|, two electromagnets 62 and 63,and a suitable source of current 64.

Arranged in the lower end portion of the in clined playing board 49 is adepression or pocket 65, (Fig-12), and normally disposedun thisdepression or pocket 65 is a ball receptacle 66 which forms part of ,aball propelling or reprojecting device, which is generally indicated at61, (Fig. 12), and which includes the two electromagnets 62 and 63.

The ball receptacle is mounted upon the upper end portion of a carrieror supporting member 68 which includes two diverging arms 69-16, thesearms 69-10 being formed together in a '-V-shaped formation, (Figs. 13and 14) When a ball propelled onto the upper area 46 of the inclinedplaying board 49 engages the edge a (from full line position to dottedline position F,

1| oi'the segmental contact plate 5| at a point substantially midwaybetween the arms 52 and 53, (Fig. 11), the force applied by the impactof the ball against the edge 1| of the contact plate 5| will cause thearms 52 and 53 to move their respective contact members 56 and 58simultaneously and thereby force the contact members 56 and 58simultaneously into engagement with their respective contacts 51 and 59,thereby simultaneously closing the circuit 66, (Fig. 15), to both of theelectromagnets 62 and 63. Consequently, the relative potentials of thecurrent which will then flow through the circuit 60 to theelectromagnets 62 and .63 will be substantially the same and theelectromagnetic forces set up 15 in the electromagnets 62 and 63 will besubstantially equal. Accordingly, the electromagnetic forces applied bythe electromagnets 62 and 63 to the diverging arms 69 and 10,respectively of the carrier or supporting member 68, are substantiallyequal so that both arms 69 and 10 of the carrier or supporting member 68are attract- .playing board 49, and the ball 12 disposed in the 30receptacle 66 is reproiected out of the latter up the inclined playingboard 49 in a line substantially parallel to the long axis of the incined playing board 49. v

However, if, for example, the played ball strikes 35 the edge 1| of thecontact plate 5| at position E, (Fig. 11), which is a point adjacentoneend of the edge 1|, the arm 53 will move the contact 56 carried therebyinto engagement with the contact 59, thereby closing the circuit 69 tothe electromagnet 62. When the switches 5859 are thus closed currentwill also flow through the circuit 69 by way of the resistance 6| to theelectromagnet 63, thereby causing the electromagnet 63 to attract thearmature 10 of the reprojecting member 68 (Fig. 13) with relatively lessforce than that with which the electromagnet 62 attracts the armatureportion 69 of the reprojecting member 68, thereby causing thereprojecting member 66 to pivot about its axis and thus re- 50 project aball up 011 from the seat or cup 66 up the inclined playing board 49 atan angle relative to the long axis of the latter.

Accordingly, the electromagnet 62 being thus energized, theelectromagnet 62 will attract the arm 69 of the reprojecting members66-66, thereby causing the ball receptacle or reprojecting member 66 tobe moved, both forwardly (from full to dotted line position, Fig. 12)and laterally 60 Fig. 13), thus causing the ball 12 (which is disposedin the ball receptacle or pocket 66) to be reprojected up the inclinedplaying board 49 at an angle relative to the long axis of the inclinedplaying board 49. 65 On the other hand, if, for example, the played ballstrikes the edge 1| of the contact plate 5| at a point adjacent theopposite end of the edge 1|, at position G (Fig. 11) the arm 52 willmove the contact 56 into engagement with the contact 70 51, and therebyclose the circuit 68 to the electromagnet 63, prior to the time the arm53 moves the contact 56 into engagement with the contact 59, so as toclose the circuit 66 to the electromagnet 62. i5

The electromagnet 63 will thus be energized and hence will attract thearm 10 of the ball-reprojecting member 68 (into dotted line position, D,Fig. 13), andhence the reprojecting members 66-68 will be attracted bythe electromagnets 63 and will thus be moved into reprojecting position'(as in dotted lines, Fig. 12). In this manner the ball 12 which isdisposed in the ball carrier or pocket 66 will be reprojected up theinclined playing board 49 at an angle relative to the long axis of thelatter; itbeing noted that this last-named angle will be opposite to theangle at which the ball 12 will be reprojected when the playedballengages the edge 'II of the contact plate 5| at position E, or atany other point on the opposite side of the center or midpoint of theedge I I. In other words, when a played ball engages the edge H of thecontact plate 5| at its midpoint, (position M, Fig. 11) the ball 12which is disposed in the ball seat or receptacle portion 66 of theball-reprojecting members 666869--1062-63, etc., will be reprojected upthe inclined playing board in a direction sub stantially parallel to thelong axis of the inclined playing board 49, whereas when a played ballengages the edge H of the contact plate 5i at either side of themidpoint M, (Fig. 11), of the same the ball 12 which is disposed in theball seat or receptacle portion of the ball-reprojecting units66-68--626369-10, etc., will be reprojected up the inclined playingboard 49 at an angle relative to the long axis of the inclined playingboard 49, depending upon which of the electromagnets 62 or 63 isactuated, as hereinbefore explained.

In the event that a played ball engages the edge H of the contact plate5Iat a point between the center and point G, the contact 56 will engageits associated contact 51, thereby closing the circuit 60 to theelectromagnet 63 and, subsequently, the contact 58 will engage thecontact 59 and thereby close the circuit 60 to the electromagnet. Inthis event, the arm 10 of the reprojecting device 68 will first beattracted to the electromagnet 63 (into positionD,' Fig. 13), and,subsequently, the arm 69 of the reprojecting member will be attracted bythe electromagnet 62 (into position F-, Fig. 13), thus rapidly changingthe angle at which the ball 12, which is disposed in the ball receptacleor cup 66, will be reprojected by the latter over the inclined playingboard.

An action opposite to that above set forth takes place when a ballengages the edge H of the contact plate 5| at a pointbetween the centerfM and the other end E of the edge 1|, since in this event the contact58 will engage the contact 59 and close the circuit 60 to theelectromagnet 62 prior to the time that the contact 56 engages thecontact 51 and closes the circuit 60 to the electromagnet 63. Hence, inthis event, the arm 69 of the ball-reprojecting device 68 will beattracted by the electromagnet 62 (from full to dotted lineposition,'Fig. 12) prior to the time the electromagnet 63 is actuated,whereupon the electromagnet 63 when thus actuated, will attract the armll! of the ball-reprojecting device 68 (from full to dotted lineposition, into position F, Fig. 12). v

Arranged below the electromagnets 62 and 63, (Figs. 13 and 14), is asupporting bracket 14, (Fig. 14), and each having one end portionattached to this bracket 14 are two resilient members or flat leafsprings '15 and 19. The fiat leaf spring 15 hasan end portion 16 whichprojects into an opening '11 which is formed in the arm 10 o the ballreprojecting member 68, and a similar arrangement is provided inconnection with the resilient strip 16, (Fig. 14). p

t A spring 18 has one end attachedto the lower end of the reprojectingmember 68, (Figs. 14 and 16), and the other end of this spring 18 isattached to the bracket 14.

The spring 18 urges the carrier 68 in a direction (left to right, Fig.12), to project the end portions I6 of the strips 15'and 19i'nto theopenings H which are formed in the arms 69 and 10 of the reprojectingdevice 68, thereby holding the arms 69 and 10 of the reprojecting devicein a position midway between the electromagnets 62 and 63, and in aposition to reproject a ball 12 up the inclined playing board. in adirection substantially parallel to the long axis of the inclinedplaying board 49.

The particular means by which the ball I2 is elevated up onto theinclined playing board 49 so as to enter into the ball seat orreceptacle L portion 66 of the ball-reprojecting devices 66--68 --6910,etc., forms no part of the present invention, but a conventionalelevating device is shown, for the purpose of illustrating apreferred'environment of the invention, and such an elevating device isgenerally indicated at 13, (Fig. 12).

In the use of a game apparatus embodying the present invention thereprojected balls will not engage the transparent top of the cabinet'(Fig. 8) by reason of the fact that the are through which the balls arereprojected by thereprojecting devices 61-68, etc., is relatively short,(ending at its upper end with the rail 86, Fig. 1)

compared to the length'of the cabinet 2!; and

of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim 'as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a game apparatus, the combination of a cabinet including aninclined playing board; a plurality of targets arranged upon saidinclined playing board; means for propelling a ball onto the upperportion of saidinclined playing board so that itmay gravitate thereoverand engage against one of said targets; and means actuated by theengagement of 'a ball against one of said targets for reprojecting aball up said inclined playing board either in a direction substantiallyparallel to the long axis of the said playing board or at an anglerelative thereto dependent upon the particular one of said targets whichis engaged by the played ball. v

2.'In a game apparatus, the combination of: a cabinet including a memberproviding a ball playing surfaceprovided with a plurality of targets;means for propelling a ball over said playing surface so that it mayengage one of said targets; and means actuated by the engagement of aball against one of said targets for repropolling a ball over saidplaying surface either at an angle substantially parallel to an axis ofsaid playing surface or at an angle relative thereto dependent upon theparticular one of said targets which is engaged by the played ball.

3. In a game apparatus, the combination of: a cabinet including a memberproviding a ball playing surface provided with a ball seat; a pluralityof contact members or targets movably mounted upon said playing surface;means for propelling a ball over said playing surface so that it mayengage one of said contact members or targets; a pair ofball-reprojecting members movably mounted in said cabinet and adapted toreproject a ball off from said seat oversaid playing surface; and meansactuated by a ball engaging one of said contact members or targets forsimultaneously operating said ball reprojecting members either atsubstantially the same relative speed against a ball disposed upon saidseat or at difierent speeds depending upon the particular one of saidcontact members or targets which is engaged by the played ball.

4. In a game apparatus, the combination of: a cabinet including a memberproviding a ball playing surface provided with a ball seat; contactmeans in said cabinet engageable by a ball propelled over said playingsurface; and means including a device actuated by a ball engaging saidcontact means for reprojecting balls, at different times, off from saidball seat over said playing surface at various and different anglesrelative to an axis of said playing surface. 5. In a game apparatus, thecombination of: a cabinet including a member providing a ball playingsurface; a contact member or target movably mounted in said cabinet andhaving a surface engageable by balls traveling over said playingsurface; and means including a device actuated by a ball engaging thesaid surface of said contact member or target for reprojecting balls, atdifferent times, over said playing surface at various and differentangles relative to a preselected axis of said playing surface dependingupon the particular portion of or point upon. the said surface of saidcontact member which is engaged by a ball propelled thereagainst.

DONALD E. HOOKER.

